These photos explore the emotional intensity of BDSM

The world of BDSM is so often misrepresented and misunderstood, depicted gratuitously to satisfy prurient curiosity. Most evocations of this complex subculture don’t do justice to the nuance, the sympathy and the deep, trusting relationships formed between those who participate. A new photo book by Ottilie Landmark, launching today (October 30) at Reference Point in 180 The Strand, looks at the subject through a compassionate lens. Anxious to Please is the culmination of five years immersed in London’s BDSM culture, focusing on ten people who allowed the Danish-born photographer to take intimate pictures of them enacting their desires.

Speaking to Dazed earlier this year at the fundraising stage of the book’s development, Landmark says: “Being invited into those intimate moments and just observing has felt really humbling. You’re in these vulnerable spaces, but you’re also not fully part of it, which creates a unique kind of connection.” The shoots aren’t staged or directed; Landmark is there as a voyeur. “It’s really about tuning into what my subjects are drawn to and how they want to be portrayed, allowing the shoot to unfold naturally.”

Anxious to Please combines Landmark’s photographs of erotic encounters with fragments of interviews conducted by Anastasiia Fedorova, an author who explores fetish and kink in her own work and life, who has been involved in the project since the beginning. Fedorova’s insider perspective takes us into the rituals of rubber, needle play and more. “I think she really understands how to translate my images into words,” Landmark tells Dazed. “Due to her in-depth knowledge of kink and fetish culture, she can add context to the imagery, providing a narrative that complements the visual side of the project.”

While BDSM can seem intimidating, this project highlights the mutual care and reciprocal trust that exists at the heart of these exchanges. It’s a work guided by empathy and admiration for people pursuing their desires together. Landmark emphasises why we need to treasure and celebrate these endeavours: “In a time of heightened precarity for queer people, it’s important to create work that celebrates human connection.”

Anxious to Please launches today at Reference Point from 7-11pm with a book signing, drinks, and a DJ set by Manuka Honey.